More than a year after they were originally scheduled to meet, the two sides will finally decide the tournament’s final Asian qualifier over the coming week, with the second leg to be held in Suzhou on Tuesday.

Repeated postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic may have pushed the 2020 qualifiers well into 2021, but the prize remains the same for Korea Republic, who are eager to make their first major statement since Bell’s appointment in October 2019.

Djokić broke through after nearly two hours of a tense but goalless football, with Mirjalol Kasimov’s side missing several chances before finally booking their place in the main draw.

AGMK will join Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC, Shabab Al Ahli of UAE and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol in Group A, which begins in Riyadh next Thursday while Al Gharafa’s participation comes to an abrupt end.

The three-time AFC Cup winners left it late to find the back of the net, cancelling Al Wehda’s first-half goal and taking the game to an extra 30 minutes where the two teams could not be separated.

With this win Air Force Club join UAE’s Sharjah FC, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor and Pakhtakor FC of Uzbekistan in Group B of the 2021 AFC Champions League taking place in Sharjah.

With the win, Al Wahda book their place in Group E, joining Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis FC, Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC and FC Goa of India.

The two sides are locked in the two-legged decider where the winners will progress to this year's global showpiece. Colin Bell’s Taegeuk Ladies will be the hosts on Thursday in Goyang for the first leg before travelling to Suzhou, China five days later for the return leg. Despite having never qualified for the Olympics before, Kang voiced their determination to book their maiden progression.

"It is perhaps the best opportunity [for us] to qualify for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament for the first time," the Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels striker, who turned 23 last month, told FIFA.com in a pre-match exclusive interview.

"It is the team's common goal to make history [through qualification]. Personally, of course, I want to offer my contribution and grab the chance of playing in our Olympic debut."

Raif Ahmed opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but the hosts had to withstand a second-half recovery from Thimphu before Naim confirmed his side’s progress with a superb late free-kick.

The result extends Club Eagles’ bid to qualify for the group stage, with another sudden death tie against Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh to follow next Wednesday, while Thimphu’s continental campaign is over as quickly as it begun.

Head coach Nabin Neupane and his squad will now travel to Goa to face India’s Bengaluru FC next Wednesday in their bid to advance to the group stage.